Refrigerating apparatus



Nov. 14, 1944. H. B. HULL REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed001:. 24, 1934 mm mm MIR G NW B I fill TOR.

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Nov. 14, 1944. H. B. HULL REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 24, 1934 5Sheets-Sheet 5 N ENTOR.

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ATTO RNEYS Patented Nov. 14, 1944 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Harry B. Hull,Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Cor oration, Dayton, Ohio, acorporatlon of Delaware Application October 24, 1934, Serial No. 749,773

9 Claims. (Cl. 62-129) This invention relates to refrigeration.

It is an object of this invention to provide a self-contained roomcooler or conditioner which is adapted to be installed in rooms andother enclosures without the necessity of connecting water pipes to thecooler.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearlyshown.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical cross-sectional view, somewhat diagrammatic, of aroom cooler embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transversevertical cross-sectional view of a portion of theapparatus shown in Fig. 1 and taken along the lines 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of the electrical control forthe motors used in the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 1, but showing a slightlymodified form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view-taken along the lines 5-5 ofFig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 1, but showing a furthermodification;

Fig. '7 is a vertical cross-sectional view, somewhat diagrammatic, of afurther modification in which the complete high side is placed outsideof the room;

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the lines 8-8 ofFig. 7

Fig. 9 is a view in perspective of a portion of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is .a horizontal cross-sectional view, with portions of thewindow removed, of the apparatus shown in Fig.7; and

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a detail.

An apparatus embodying features of my invention includes in general anair cooling or conditioning device adapted to be placed in a room or thelike, with a heat absorber in the room and with a heat dissipator havingat least a portion thereof extending through a window of the room, theentire structure being preferably joined to form a unitary device whenit is assembled to cool the room.

In the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the air cooling or heat absorbingportion of the appaform of a blower l3, driven by a motor l3, throughthe opening ll back into the room. This air cooling portion convenientlymay be mounted at the top of a cabinet l5. Also, if desired, a fresh airpipe I! is-connected at I8 to the air inlet of the evaporator l0, andthe pipe has its other end located outside the window at 19. Thus airfrom the room, and, if desired, fresh air is caused to circulate overthe cold surfaces of the evaporator l0 and is discharged into the roomthus lowering the temperature and/or humidity of the room.

In the lower half of the cabinet there is an insulated compartment IS inwhich a portion of the heat dissipating unit is located. The heatdissipating unit of the device includes a refrigerant translator orcompressor 20 whichmay be located in the compartment l6 and whichforwards refrigerant to a condenser 2| which forms a portion of the heatdissipating unit located outside of the room, where the heat isdischarged into the atmosphere and refrigerant is condensed andaccumulated in a liquid refrigerant receiver The heat absorber orevaporator I0 is supplied with refrigerant from the receiver 22 fromwhence it flows in liquid form through the line 23 to the expansionvalve 24 of the evaporator Hi. The refrigerant, at reduced pressure,flows through the evaporator coils 25 of the evaporator and returnsthrough the suction line- 26 to the compressor' 20. The expansion valve24 may be of the type in which liquid refrigerant is automaticallyintroduced into the coils 25 whenever the pressure in the coils 25 isreduced below a predetermined pressure. In addition, this valve may beprovided with a thermostatic bulb 21 placed at the outlet of theevaporator which throttles the valve 24 whenever the refrigeratingeifect in the coils 25 cools the outlet below a predeterminedtemperature. Thus liquid refrigerant is prevented from flooding thecompressor 20, as is well understood in the art.

Preferably the calibration of the valve 24 is such that liquidrefrigerant is introduced into the evaporator at vapor-pressures abovethat corresponding to 32 F. The evaporator 10 is thus prevented fromaccumulating frost and any moisture contained in the air is condensed inliquid form on the surfaces of the evaporator and trickles into the pan28. Any'moisture thus conratus includes an evaporator l0 around whichair from the room H passes after entering at the inlet l2, and fromwhich the cooled air is discharged by electrically actuated means in thedensed is thereafter discharged outside of the room by any suitablemeans. In this form, it is discharged by the capillary action of a wick29 one portion of which is placed in the pan 28, an-

other portion of which is surrounded by an airtight casing 30 andanother portion 3| of which is exposed to the atmosphere outside. of theroom, preferably in the path of the current ofair flowing over thecondenser. If desired, a plurality of such wicks may be provided. Thusmoisture is absorbed by the wick or wicks at 29 and is evaporated at 3|outside the room.

The heat dissipating portion of the apparatus further includes anelectric energizing means in the form of a motor 32 which drives thecompressor 20 through the medium of a belt 33. A certain amount of heatis generated by the motor and compressor in the heat insulatedcompartment I6. This heat may be dissipated to the outside of the roomby providing a heat absorber 34 in the compressed refrigerant line 35.The refrigerant compressed by the compressor 20 flows through the heatabsorber 34 and picks up any excess heat of the compartment IS in theform of superheat which is then carried by the refrigerant through theline 36 to the condenser 2|. Here the heat is dissipated from itsurfaces, and fins 3'! on the coils of the condenser, to air circulatedthereover by means of the fans 38 and 39 driven by the motor 40.

The instrumentalities thus far described may be held together by anysuitable means. Thus bracket means conveniently in the form of arms 4|are adjustably secured at 42 to the cabinet l so that the arms may beplaced at any height necessary for the particular window with which theyare to cooperate. The arms 4| may carry. by adjustable fastening means43. a casing 44 within which may be placed the condenser 2|, fan 38 and39 and the motor 40 together with the receiver 22 and any other desiredportions of the apparatus. Air from outside the room may enter thecasing 44 at the inlet 45 and may be discharged through the outlets 46which may be provided with louvers.-

The apparatus may be automatically operated in accordance withconditions within the room. Thus a thermostat, either dry bulb or wetbulb, or a combination of both, as indicated at 41, may be placed in theroom II or in any position to be representative of conditions therein.This thermostat may be provided with a switch 41' well-known in the art,which controls the operation of the motors 32 and 40.

Controls are provided to permit the circulation of air independently ofrefrigeration demands. Thus a manually operable master switch 54 isprovided in the lead 55 which controls the operation of the entireapparatus. When this switch is closed, the motor l3 operates. If inaddition refrigeration is desired, a manually operable switch 51 may beclosed which then places the operation of the motors 32 and 40 under thecontrol of thermostat 41.

The arm 4|, together with any pipe or other structures which may joinportions of the apparatus, may pass through any portion of the window.Thus a false sill 5| may be placed over the regular sill 52 of thewindow and the arms 4| and pipes 23, 30 and 36 may be imbedded in thefalse sill 5| so that the window sash 53 may be lowered thereon andsubstantially seal the window opening. The lower portion of the sash 53may be cut to compensate for the additional height of the sill 5| orsuitable sealing means may be provided at the upper part of the sash 53to cooperate with the other portion of the window to seal the same or anew sash of proper height may be substituted for the old one.

The operation of the app'aratus shown in Figs.

' 1, 2 and 3 is as follows: The blower I3 is driven by a motor l3. Whenit is desired merely to cause a circulation of air in the room, the handswitch 54 is closed which will then permit current to flow through themotor |3' from the lead 55 to the lead 56. When it is desired also tohave refrigeration, the hand switch 51 is closed and thereafter thethermostat 41 controls the operation of the motors 32 and 40 asconditions may require. Thus when the temperature, dry bulb or wet bulbor combination of both. rises above a predetermined limit, the switch41' closes and causes the motors 32 and 40 to operate and they continueto operate until the temperature falls below a predetermined lower limitat which the switch 41' opens. Thereafter the motors 32 and 40 remainidle until the temperature again rises and closes the switch 41. Whenthe motors 32 and 40 are operating, the air being circulated by theblower I3 is cooled by contact with the outer surface of the evaporator0. The air to be cooled may be air from the room and, if desired, acertain amount of fresh air from outside the room entering through thepipe H. The air is discharged into the room through opening I4. The

refrigerant flows from the compressor 20 through the pipe 35, heatabsorber 34, pipe 36, condenser 2| where the heat is dissipated and therefrigerant is condensed, and from whence the liquid refrigerant flowsthrough the pipe 23 to the expansion valve 24. Here the pressure isreduced and the refrigerantis introduced into the coils 25 of theevaporator II). There heat is absorbed while the refrigerant is thereevaporated and returns in gaseous form through pipe 26 to the compressor20. Any moisture condensed on the evaporator l0 trickles into the pan 28and is then discharged by capillary action through the wicks 29--3| tothe outside atmosphere. The operation of the motors 32 and 40 iscoordinated by the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 as heretofore pointedout.

The arrangement shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is somewhat similar to that shownin Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The evaporator Ina is provided in the upper portionof a cabinet |5a. Air from the room Ila may enter at In and may flowover the outer surface of the evaporator |0a by the actionof the blower|3a and may be discharged back into the room in a cooled conditionthrough the opening l4a, Air from outside the room may enter the pipeIla at |9a and may be discharged over the surfaces of the evaporatorIlla at l8a in a manner substantially the same as in Fig. -1. Themoisture condensed on the evaporator |0a may be gathered in a drip pan28a and may be dissipated outside of the room in the manner hereinaftermore fully to be described.

A refrigerant translator or compressor 20a discharges compressedrefrigerant through pipe 35a and heat absorber 34a to the pipe 36through which it flows to the condenser 2|a. The condensed refrigerantis gathered in a liquid refrigerant receiver 22a from whence it flows inliquid form through the pipe 23a to the expansion valve 24a having athermostatic bulb 21a placed at the outlet of the evaporator Illa wherethe same is connected to the evaporator refrigerant pipe 26a. Thecombined action of the valve 24a and thermostatic bulb 21a issubstantially the same as that of valve 24 and bulb 21 in Fig. 1. Thecompressor may .be driven by a motor 32a by the medium of a belt 33a asin Fig. 1. Air may be blown over the condenser 2|a by means of a fan 38adriven by a motor 40a. The operation of the motors 32a and 40a togetherwith the motor which drives the blower I35 may be substantially the sameas that described with respect to the motors in Figs. 1. 2 and 3, andthe circuit shown v in Fig. 3 may be used for the motors of the devicshown in Figs. 4 and 5. The, instrumentalities for dissipating thecondensed moisture have been modified in Figs. 4 and 5. Thus moistureaccumulated in the pan 28a flows through the pipe 60 to a pump 6| drivenby the motor 32a through the medium of a belt 62. The moisture is thenpumped through the pipe 63 to sump 64 placed in the bottom or the casingMe. Here the condensed moisture, together with additional water pouredin occasionally through the opening 65, is sprayed over the condenserportions by the rotating .cone 66 driven by the motor of the condenserand its fins 31a where evaporation of the water aids in cooling thecondenser. Air from outside the room enters the casing 44a at theopening 45a and leaves through the outlets 46a.

The supporting arm structure together with the sill structure used inFigs. 4 and 5 may be substantially the same as that shown and describedwith respect to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and are therefore not further againdescribed in detail.

A slightly modified form of the invention is shown in Fig. 6. Here acabinet I houses an evaporator IOI in its upper part. Air from the roomenters at I02 flows over the outer surfaces of the evaporator IOIthrough the action of the fan I03 driven by the motor I04. The cooledair is discharged through the opening I05. The refrigerant from theevaporator IN is compressed by a motor-compressor unit hermeticallysealed within casing I06, where the refrigerant is compressed anddischarged through the pipe I01 to the condenser I06. The condensedrefrigerant is gathered in the receiver I09 and flows through the pipe II0 to the expansion valve II I. The expansion valve III is provided witha thermostatic bulb H2 and the valve and bulb operate substantially thesame as the valve 24 and bulb 21 of Fig. 1. Moisture condensed on theevaporator IOI is gathered in the drip pan I13 and flows therefromthrough the pipe I I4 to a pump II driven by a motor H6. This motor mayalso conveniently drive the fan I I! which circulates air over thecondenser I08. The condensed moisture pumped through pump II5 may thenflow through the pipe I I8 to the spray-head I I9 placed over thecondenser I08. moisture is evaporated on the outer surface of thecondenser I08 and is absorbed by the air flowing over the condenser. Theair which is circulated by the fan I01 may enter the casing I throughopening HI and leave the casing through opening I22. The casing I20 maybe adjustably secured at I23 to the cabinet I00 so that the same mayrest on the sill I24. If the width of the casing I20 is not identicalwith that of the window, a suitable structure made of wood, rubber orthe like may be placed along the sides of the casing I20 to seal thesides of the casing with the sides of the window, and the false sill I25may be placed on top of the casing I20. The sash I25 may be made of asize to compensate for the new height of the sill I25. The casing of themotor I06 of the motor-compressor unit may be embedded in insulationI21. Thus all the heat generated by the motor and compressor in thecasing I06 is dissipated through gaseous refrigerant Here the condensed40a. Thus water is caused to flow over the coils flowing through pipeI01 to the condenser I08. The motor in casing I06 and motor II8 may becontrolled by any automatic thermostatic switch similar to switch 41'while the motor I04 may be controlled in a. manner similar to I3. Thusthe motor in casing I06 and motor II6 operate in response to conditionsin the room I28 simultaneously through the action of the thermostatcorresponding to thermostat 41 and motor I04 may be caused to operatethrough the medium of a hand switch corresponding to hand switch 54.

In the modification shown in Figs. '7 to 11 inclusive, the compressor,together with its motor, may also be placed outside of the window. Inthis modification a U-shaped bracket means or structure is formed by thearms I50 and I5I adjustably secured together at I52 to compensate forany wall width. This U-shaped structure is hung over the sill I53, and afalse sill structure I54 is arranged therewith to engage with the sash.Thus the false sill is provided with lateral adjusting strips so thatthe false sill may be adjusted to any width of window desired. .This

I61 both located within the casing I59.

lateral adjustment is secured by means of the bolts I56.

The air cooling casing I51 is secured to the arms I50 and hangs in theroom I58 while the heat dissipating casing I59 is secured to the armsI5I through the medium of the hinged brackets I60. An evaporator I6I isplaced in the casing I51 together with a motor I62 which drives the fanI63. The fan I63 causes air to flow from the room I58 through theopening I64 over the evaporator I6I and be discharged back into roomthrough the opening I65. The refrigerant is caused to circulate throughthe system by means of a compressor I66 which is driven by a motorRefrigerant in the evaporator I 6| flows through the pipe I68 to thecompressor I66 from whence it is discharged in compressed conditionthrough the pipe I69 to the condenser I10. The refrigerant therecondensed is gathered in the receiver Ill and flows therefrom throughthe pipe I12 to the expansion valve I13. The motor I61 also drives a fanI15 which causes air to flow from the inlet I16 over the condenser I 10and be discharged through the outlet I11. In addition, if desired, asmall air inlet may also be provided at I18 along one side of the casingI59. All of the connections between the casings I51 and I59 may passthrough the false sill I54 as will be readily understood.

The moisture condensed on the evaporator I6I gathers at the lowerportion of the casing I51 and enters the pump I through the pipe IBI.The pump I80 may be driven by the fan motor I62 and discharges thecondensate through the pipe I82 to the spray-head I63. placed over thecondenser I 10. As heretofore described with respect to Fig. 6, thiscondensate then evaporates as it flows over the condenser I60 and isdischarged to the atmosphere outside of the room.

The false sill structure may be of any character desired. Convenientlythe central section I54 may rest on a central rubber section I93. Theextensions I55 may rest on extension rubber sections I94. The sectionsI54 and I55 are laterall adjustable as heretofore described for any sizewindow and they are of such a width that a sash I may reston both thesections I54 and I55 and thus may make a substantially air-tight jointat the lower portion. The sash may be shortened by cutting off the lowerportion, or, if necessary, a new sash of proper length may besubstituted. The sill structure herein shown is merely exemplary and itis to be understood that any sill structure may be used, as for example,a sill of the exact dimensions to fit the window.

While-the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed,constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. 'In a room or the like, a window, a false window sill, an airconditioner, said air conditioner including a bracket extending throughsaid window sill, said air conditioner comprising an evaporator withinthe room, and a condenser mounted On the bracket without the room.

2. In a room or the like, a window, an'air conditioner, said airconditioner including a bracket, said conditioner comprising anevaporator within -the room, and a condenser mounted on the said coil, afan assembly for circulating air over bracket without the room, meansfor adjusting said bracket vertically, and means to adjust the spacingbetween the evaporator and the condenser.

3. In a room or the like, a window, a bracket passing through saidwindow, a first casing adjustably secured to said bracket within saidroom, a second casing adjustably secured to said bracket outside saidroom, a first heat exchange element in said first casing, a second heatexchange element in said second casing, refrigerant flow connectionsbetween said elements, and a refrigerant translating device located insaid first casing.

4. In a room or the like, a window, an air conditioner comprising anevaporator unit Within the room, a cabinet for said evaporator, acondenser unit without the room, and refrigerant flow connectionsbetween said units passing through said window, said condenser unitcomprising a condenser coil, a water receptacle below said condensercoil and means operated by said fan assembly and projecting into saidreceptacle for spraying water onto said coil.

5. In combination with a wall of a building having a window in a roomthereof, an air conditioning unit projecting through said windowscomprising,.in combination, an evaporator disposed at the room side ofsaid wall, means supporting the evaporator within said room, means forcirculating room air over the evaporator, means providing an atmosphericair passageway disposed at the exterior side of said wall, a condenserdisposed within said passageway wholly outside said room, means in saidair passageway for circulating outside air over the condenser therein,means for collecting condensate from said evaporator and conducting itinto and discharging the same in said air passageway, and means forconditioning said condensate for vaporization in said passageway.

6. Ina conditioner adapted to be placed in an enclosure, an evaporatorcontaining refrigerant, means to cause thermal exchange between saidrefrigerant and air to be conditioned for said enclosure, heatdissipating means connected in refrigerant flow relationship with saidevaporator and including a refrigerant translating device and acondenser, a water reservoir adapted to be located outside saidenclosure, at least a portion of said heat dissipating means beingmounted within said water reservoir, and means for circulating air inthermal exchange relationship to said water.

In a portable air conditioner having an evaporator located within anenclosure, means for circulating air from said enclosure thereover tocool and partially dehumidify the air, means for collecting moisturecondensed from the air passing over the evaporator, means for conveyingthe moisture to a point outside said enclosure, a condensing unitconnected to said evaporator, a portion of said unit being locatedoutside the enclosure, and means for causing heat absorbed by saidevaporator and dissipated by said condensing unit to be utilized forevaporating said moisture and disposing of the same into outsideatmospheric air.

8. In a conditioner adapted to be placed in an enclosure, an evaporatorcontaining refrigerant, means to supply air from said enclosure to saidevaporator to cause a thermal exchange between said refrigerant and airto be conditioned for said enclosure, heat dissipating means connectedin refrigerant fiow relationship with said evaporator and including arefrigerant translating device and a condenser, at least a portion ofsaid heat dissipating means being adapted to be located outside saidenclosure, a sump outside said enclosure, and means for introducingcondensate water into said sump, said heat dissipating means including aportion disposed in said sump so as to heat said condensate water.

9. In a room or the like, a window, an air conditioner comprising anevaporator unit within the room, a cabinet for said evaporator, acondenser unit without the room, and refrigerant flow connectionsbetween said units passing through said window, said condenser unitcomprising a condenser coil, a water receptacle, a fan assembly forcirculating air over said condenser coil and means operated by said fanassembly and projecting into said receptacle for spraying water ontosaid coil.

HARRY B. HULL.

